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My dojo has actually had problems because of this kind of thing. We can terrorise a room by sitting in corner reading a book, practically.
We can walk into a bar and the place goes silent and everyone just stares at us. It's like a scene from a western when the gun slinger walks into the saloon.

There's a book with a nice quote - I think it is Forest Morgan's "Living the Martial Way", but it may not be.

The author talks about going into bars and getting into fights all the time. Then realises that he goes in and sizes up all those present subconsciously, thinking "I could take him, him, ....".

Things get more peaceful when he goes in to bars with the attitude "everyone in here is safer because I am here..."

Then of course there are all the stories of zen masters playing with tigers etc as opposed to fighting them...

I was playing drop-in soccer during lunch one day last year and a guy on our side got taken down, he did mae-ukemi and was back up immediately.I went over to him and asked him if he did Aikido, and sure enough he did, though he said he hadn't practiced for a few years. Old habits die hard I guess.

There's a book with a nice quote - I think it is Forest Morgan's "Living the Martial Way", but it may not be.

The author talks about going into bars and getting into fights all the time. Then realises that he goes in and sizes up all those present subconsciously, thinking "I could take him, him, ....".

Things get more peaceful when he goes in to bars with the attitude "everyone in here is safer because I am here..."

One thing I can do pretty well is walk past the groups of teenagers that hang around street corners where I live, without them calling after me or actually reacting in any particular way at all.

I think what usually happens is adults (especially women I'd imagine) feel threatened by a group like that, and the kids in turn, being teenage kids, already feel insecure and selfconscious and sense very easily that they are being judged. So they react, you could say in self defense.

So I think things like "what a nice evening to be with friends" or something like that, sort of get into the same frame of mind as the kids, and I walk right by them and they just go on with whatever they are doing.

One of the skills you develop as a cop over the years is the ability to pick out who the truly "bad dude" is in a group. The skill isn't foolproof and sometimes you're wrong, but the percentage is very high that you are correct. There are a lot of subtle tells that you can articulate; the deference shown him by his friends, his focus, his relaxed body language, his quiet confidence. It usually ain't the character with the shaved head, tattoos, pit bull and Tapout tee shirt. It certainly isn't the guy telling you how bad he is either.

Uniquely, a friend of mine from the FBI Behavioral Sciences Unit interviewed dozens of individuals in prison for killing cops and asked why they chose to fight it out with their victim and not others. Almost to a man, they talked about a lack of focus and attention, lack of confidence, and sloppy uniforms. A common response was that the arresting officer who finally got them wore a sharp looking and professional uniform, had a strong command presence and bearing, was self-confident, and remained focused on the situation.

Almost to a man, they talked about a lack of focus and attention, lack of confidence, and sloppy uniforms. A common response was that the arresting officer who finally got them wore a sharp looking and professional uniform, had a strong command presence and bearing, was self-confident, and remained focused on the situation.

We in the Army try to impress this to our soldiers big time. This is why a good commander is adamant about his soldiers looking uniform and confident. This is one of the most important things to consider on the street.

All predators work this way. You don't go for the strongest sheep in the heard, but the easiest. The one that appears weak and won't put up a fight.

Reminds me of an incident once at my job. I had a co worker who claimed he'd been in prison for manslaughter. Any rate he got angry one night at me and started to threaten. Said he'd be meeting me out back after work. I just smiled at him and said ok and continued working. He kept at it and I just kept smiling and saying ok. Totally relaxed and quite cool.

About 30 minutes before we were due to be done work he came over and apologized to me and said he was just upset and didn't mean it... all the while his body language said he was not quite so sure he wanted to go through with it.

Its not the first, or last, time I've used the same body language mentioned by Kevin to change the mind of someone who thought they could push me around. One thing I've often said. You don't actually have to be able to kick someones but you just have to make them believe you can.

yeah I went to a bar once wearing one of my Gracie Jiu Jitsu shirts, didn't give it much though until I got in there. Not a good idea. Nothing happened, but I kept getting looks from bubbas that were definitely sizing me up.

yeah I went to a bar once wearing one of my Gracie Jiu Jitsu shirts, didn't give it much though until I got in there. Not a good idea. Nothing happened, but I kept getting looks from bubbas that were definitely sizing me up.

Yup... I also feel uncomfortable wearing a shirt that advertises your martial art when walking around outside... not quite sure what kind of message you are trying to send to people around you